Adelaide star Matt Crouch reveals the family’s struggle over Brad’s free agency move to St Kilda

Matt Crouch knows the scrutiny on his future is coming after what happened to his brother Brad but he’s determined not to let his season be affected.

Matt Crouch at the Crows’ headquarters at West Lakes. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Having spent last season watching his older brother, Brad, go through intense speculation about his contract status, Crows midfielder Matt Crouch is heading into the 2021 potentially facing the same treatment.

The 25-year-old, who underwent hip surgery in the off-season, is out of contract at the end of the year and will become a restricted free agent unless he signs an extension.

He says he’s started speaking with club management, but is comfortable to head into the 2021 season without signing on a dotted line.

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“I’ve spoken a little bit with the footy club in the last month or so but we’re going through that at the moment, for me, it’s about getting my hip right, getting back into training and then hopefully performing once that chance comes,” he said.

When asked whether he would like his contract sorted before the start of the season, Crouch said: “I haven’t really got a preference”.

“I’m happy with where it sits at the moment,” he said.

“I’ll be catching up with the footy club and I’ll be speaking to a few of the people around the footy club, so I’m happy where it sits.”

Crouch said he was unfazed by the speculation that might follow him when it comes to his contract.

“That’s part of the industry now, it’s part of what you do, it’s part of the job, we sign up for that,” he said.

“I’m more worried about performing and where the footy club gets to as a whole. I hope we can get back and make our supporters really proud again.

“That’s something that I’m focused on.”

Matt Crouch at the Crows’ headquarters at West Lakes. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

But in positive signs for Crows fans, Crouch seemed content with a number of things about the Adelaide Footy Club, including:

*The new faces at West Lakes: “We’ve got a young group now, it’s very exciting, there’s a lot of energy around the place.”

*Becoming a leader in the midfield group: “Last year we didn’t, by the numbers, as a midfield group have a great year, so it’s our responsibility to get that back where it should be.”

*Working with new assistant Nathan van Berlo: “I love the way he works with our younger players and he works with us well. I think he’s going to be very valuable for this group.”

*His second pre-season under coach Matthew Nicks: “He’s a bloody good coach, so we’re loving his company.”

* The club as a whole: “I’m comfortable with where the footy club is at, I’ve seen a lot of improvement throughout this pre-season and I’ve enjoyed that.”

Crouch said the team was determined to bounce back after last year’s wooden spoon.

“I’ve seen a real hunger from the younger guys to get to work and want to improve.

“I think even some of our older guys now it does sting when you’ve been a really good football club and fell away in the last few years.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this year.”

Crouch reveals family struggle over Brad’s move

Adelaide’s prolific ball-getter Matt Crouch has revealed the constant “will-he/won’t-he re-sign with the Crows” speculation that dogged his older brother Brad during the 2020 season was as hard on his family as it was difficult for his brother.

Speaking ahead of the 2021 season – his eighth with Adelaide and final year before, he too, falls into free agency – the 25-year-old said the Crouch family struggled under the intense scrutiny.

“Obviously the stuff that happened with Brad, it’s family that feel it the most and they just struggled with it all, which is completely understandable,” Crouch said.

“We’re lucky he had great support around him and he’s been able to handle it pretty well.”

Brad left the Crows at the end of the 2020 season and headed back home to Victoria, signing with St Kilda.

“It was challenging,” Matt said.

“You can’t shy away from that, it was a hard time for our family as well, so he had some great support.

“But he’s not at the footy club anymore and I’m focused on what I can do at this footy club and how I can help our young boys so it will be interesting playing against him but I’m looking forward to the season.”

Brothers Brad and Matt Crouch during the 2020 season. Picture: SARAH REED

The brothers will face each other for the first time as opponents in Round 13 in a clash scheduled for June 12, at Cazaly’s Stadium in Far North Queensland.

Since the two have always played for the same team – first for junior clubs in Ballarat and then Adelaide – this will be the first time the brothers have played against each other.

“It will be a bit different playing against him, but there’s plenty of games before then, so I’m more worried about them to be honest,” the 2017 Crows club champion said.

Crouch, who holds club records for most disposals in a season (825 with an average of 33 in 2017) and most handballs in a season (480, ave; 19.2 in 2017), said he missed his brother … but only “a little bit”.

“I’ve been with him for the seven or eight years he was here and I’ve been with him the whole time, but he’s happy at St Kilda now and adapting to his new life, but I’m enjoying the (Adelaide) footy club, there are a lot of new faces around here and it’s been a new change, and I’m also enjoying that as well,” he said.

But he admits the first few times driving to training without his brother were somewhat strange.

“The first couple of days it was a bit weird and outside of footy it’s probably a bit different when you’re not catching up with him … it’s been a bit of a change and it’s something you’ve just got to cope with and I’m looking forward to the season.”